Feature Story: The Conversation: How your smartphone can encourage active living

Abstract

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death globally and has reached the status of a global pandemic - a definition that is usually associated with infectious diseases like influenza.

Even those of us who are physically active every day can be quite sedentary. Working out every day, yet spending the rest of the day sitting in a chair - this has become the norm in the modern world.

We know that even moderate increases in physical activity are associated with reduced risks of physical illness such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. We also know that exercise improves our mental health and academic performance.